title: Anatomical distribution of soft tissue sepsis sites in intravenous drug misusers attending an accident and emergency department.
abstract: Of 77,686 case records of attendance at an accident and emergency department during 1986, 488 (0.6%) contained documented evidence of intravenous drug misuse (IDM). Clinical examination had revealed signs of soft tissue sepsis in 150 (31%) of these, the commonest sites being the wrist and forearm (31% of lesions), the antecubital fossa (19%), fingers and hand (14%) and thigh and groin (11%). These data highlight the anatomical areas to which medical and nursing staff should pay particular attention when examining patients with a background of IDM. Conversely, the presentation of soft tissue sepsis in these sites should alert clinicians to the possibility of underlying IDM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: MacGregor
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*